by crochambeau » Fri Sep 14, 2018 10:56 pm
I run mine at 650 too.
Before you apply solder, melt a little on the tip. Then place the tip so that it is in thermal contact with both pad and part (the molten solder on your tip from sentence 1 will act as an enveloping pillow to GREATLY assist in getting all surfaces up to temperature). Apply solder only grazing the tip at start, to break the "freeze" of the metal and begin flow. Feed the material into the parts to be soldered and not the iron. If you watch, you'll notice a point at which the solder, which has "built up" a little as you feed, will "slump" or relax into the joint. At this point (if you've covered your joint) your work is done and you can desist feeding solder and remove the iron in that order.